Musical instrument



Jl 24, 1955 J. E. LEGLER 2,755,696

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. EDWARD LEGLER INVENTO? HUEBNER, BEEHLER1 WORREL 8 HERZ/G TTORNEYS United States Patent O MUSICAL INSTRUVIENT J. Edward Legler, Fresno, Calif.

Application November 10, 1951, Serial No. 255,834

6 Claims. (Cl. 84-93) The present invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to an instrument which is economical to produce, is simple to play by even a novice and thus is suitable for use as a toy.

The development of musical appreciation in the very young has been inhibited by the lack of musical instruments of such simplicity of manipulation as to permit beginners promptly to achieve pleasing results. On certain simple instruments it has been possible for beginners to pick out simple melodies but the playing of appropriate harmony therewith has always required Considerable skill For example, many beginners find it not to difticult to play a simple melody on a harmonica but the Complexities of appropriate tonguing precludes the achieving of desired harmony therewith by all except those who have developed a measure of proficiency. Many other instruments of the so-Called toy class are diificult to master because of similar complexity of manipulation or prex'equisite knowledge of scales or the like.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument of increased simplicity of manipulation.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument of the Character described that is attractive to children and suiciently economical to produce to be suitable for sale as a toy.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument that permits even very young novices promptly to attain pleasing musical results.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument automatically providing visual indication of each musical note selected.

Another object is to provide a musical instrument in which the selection of successive notes in a melody automatically selects successively appropriate harmonic chords therefor.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the musical instrument of the present invention having a portion thereof broken away to disclose certain internal construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the instrument taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical transverse section through the instrument, as viewed from line 3-3 of Pig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fiattened illustration of a fragmentary portion of a cylindrical wall surface of a Chamber in a housing of the present invention and a similarly flattened associated Cylindrical valve sleeve utilized therein showing the relation of ports in said members.

i Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a second form of the invention in which two reed plates are employed rather than one reed plate as in the first form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but of the second form p of the invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings:

Z,755,696 Patented July 24, 1956 The musical instrument of the present invention is provided with an elongated generally cylindrical housing, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, having a forward end 11 and a rearward or tail end 12. The housing is conveniently molded to simulate the fuselage of an airplane and provided with a pair of wings 13 eX- tending oppositely from a mid-portion of the housing, a pair of horizontally oppositely extending fins 14 and a vertically projecting rudder 15 adjacent to the tail end simulating the empennage of an airplane. The upper side of the housing is bulged upwardly to simulate a Cabin or cockpin cowling 16.

The housing 10 is of hollow construction being formed with a coaxial bore 20 at its tail end with the exterior surface of the tail end of the housing formed into a mouthpiece 21 so that air may conveniently be blown into the housing through the bore 20. A Counterbore 22 of appreciably increased diameter is formed Coaxially into the housing from its forward end for a substantial portion of its length forming a Chamber 23 within the housing. A radially extending shoulder 24 is formed at the juncture of the bore 20 and the counterbore 22 with the shoulder being recessed by a Concentric annular groove 25 of the same diameter as the Counterbore.

A tone producing structure 26 of elongated rectangular form, of a Construction similar to the well known harmonica, is secured longitudinally against the underside of the housing and extends edgewardly radially of the housing. The tone producing structure comprises a pair of elongated rectangular blocks 27 afiixed to the housing in facing relation and having a plurality of grooves or passages 28 formed in their adjacent faces from their mid-portions to their edges adjacent to the housing. The tone producing structure 26 is also provided with a reed plate 29 of rectangular form having a plurality of reeds 30 equal in number to the number of passages in the blocks 27 attached at one of their ends across one of a plurality of reed openings 31 in a manner known in harmonicas. The lengths of the reeds are graduated for individual vibration periods so that the notes of a predetermined scale and extensions of the scale in octaves of said notes can be played thereby. The tone producing structure is assembled with the reed plate 29 secured between the blocks 27 with the rectangular passages 28 each in registry with a reed and reed opening in the reed plate. The assembled blocks and reed plate are formed with an arcuate surface at their mounting edge complementary to the housing which is glued, welded, soldered, or otherwise affixed to the housing 10.

Ports .33 are formed through the housing 10 radially of the Chamber 23 individually in registration with the passages 28 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 in the drawing. Assuming that the notes of a musical scale are numbered from 1 to 8 and the octaves of the scale numbered upwardly above 8, the ports 33 are formed alternately to communicate with every other, or alternate passage 28 in the blocks 27. The ports 33 register with passages 28 at one side of the reed plate to sound the first, third, fifth, eighth and tenth notes of the predetermined scale. These notes are the notes of the tonie chord of the scale. The ports 33 are formed to register, at the opposite side of the reed plate 29, with passages 28 sounding the second, fourth, sixth, Seventh and ninth notes of the predetermined scale. These notes when sounded ltogether play the dominant ninth chord of the predetermined scale in a manner similar to the notes of a harmonica when air is drawn inwardly therethrough.

A somewhat streamlined guard is preferably positioned outwardly over each of the blocks 27 and in spaced relation thereto with an upper edge of each guard attached approxirnately tangentially to the outer surface of the housing 10 and a lower edge of each guard attached to the above the reed plate.

outer :surface of a respective .block .27 adjacent .to .its

lower edge. Each guard has a plurality of openings 37 formed therethrough for the emission of sound Wavesproduced by the reeds 30.

A hollow 'cylindrical -valve --sleeve 40 is rotatably mounted in the chamber 25'inflfittedengagementetherewith. An end of the ;cylindrical-valve=sleeve'restsin the recess 25 to-preclude the passage ofairfromfthe interior-to-the exteriorrof the valve'at itsinner end. A pluralityof sets of ports 41 are formedradially through the sleeve, as

'most clearly illustrated in Pig. .4 of -the drawing. The

ports 41 are formed insets of'three With each set adapted Vto register with predetermined-ports 33 in theihousi-ng to sound three notes of -thexscale :Thezforwardmost opening in each set of openingsis conveniently adapted to sound the desired melody'note of a musical composition tobe played thereby. The instrument is adapted to play ten notes of a scale, although this may be increased or decreased as desired, and octaves of'the'first and second notes indicated'bythe numerals-9 and 10.

For descriptive convenience'the valvesleeve 40 is considered as being divided into ten'longitudinal segments or divisions 'having sets vof ports forrned relative `to these divisions to sound the desired notes. vReferring to Fig. 4,of the drawings, a first set of` three openings 4,1 shown at the top of the sleeve are formed in Vthe first divisionof the sleeve so that'when the sleeveislproperly located these three openings are located ,over 'the openings 1, 3, and I This conditions the instrument to sound the first melody note and the tonic hannony therewith. A second set of A ports 41 are formedrin thezsecond division of thecylindrical `valve 40 and are adapted to register with appropriate ports '33 when properly positioned to sound the second, fourth, and sixth notes of the scale, the second note being the melody note, the fourth Vand sixth supplying the proper Seventh harmonic `for the attained The cylindrical valve'sleeve 40 is manually'rotatable to position selected ports 451 in registry with their compawnion ports 3 3=by mountinga plugftei of cylindrical form rigidly in the forward end ,of the sleeve. Forwar'dly of the forward end of the ;cylindrical valve, the plug 44 is axially extended in reduced diameter, .as .at 45. In order tomaintain,thecylindrical valveO endwardly-in the hous- -ing 10, Va collar '47 is provided havinga coaxial bore 48 and acounterbore 4 defininga shouldertlltherebetween The forward end of the housing isformed withta cylindrical nipple'51. The counterbore 49 of theecollar 47 is fitted over the nipple 51 and lglued or'otherwise aflixed rthereto ,withrthe shoulder 50 in `ahutting relation to the vforwardend of the v-alve sleeve240. The plug'44is .rotatvably extended through the bore 4 8 and mounts a circular :disc 54 concentrically .thereon in sirnulation 4of a -whirling propeller. Apluralityof numbers' 55 .are etched, stamped, printed, or otherwise shown on the rearward face .of Vthe disk adjacent to the per-iphery thereof and in substantially equally spaced relation thereabout. 'Ihenumbers 55 correspondto thedivsions of the :valve sleeve-40 shown in Fig. 4 and are so positioned that when aligned With a pointer 56 attached on the cockpit eowling `76, ports 37 of their respective division are .aligned withethe predeter- *minedport 3.3 tozpresendition the .instrument te play a `ehord.. `For .eenvenieaee in positioning .the valve sleeve 40, --:knurled .kWh-60 is preferbly.pmyidedonme .fonwrdly extendedendof theplug 14.4. :It willbeapparent .that a person blowing through-the mouthpiece 21 vcan by visual reference .to .the ,pointer 56 and numerals .55 Select ,811,0-

cessive chords to achieve a desired musical expression.

It will be apparent that any suitable material may he utilized in the molding, fabrication or other formation of the instrument of the present invention but the applicant prefers to utilize plastic or hard rubber for the housing 10, wings 13, empennage ;14745, sleeve 40, disk 54, knob 60, blocks 27, reed plate 29, and chords 36. Metal is generally preferredlfor the -reeds 801but not essential to the successful ,operationethereof Second form A second form of the inventionjs ,illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, incorporating a modified tone producing structnre 66. This tone producing structure is provided with a single block 67 of rectangular form having a plurality of passages 68 formed in opposite sides faces thereof from a 'mid-portion to'one edge zthereof. Apairof reedplates 69 are zprovided, .each having a plurality of -reeds 70 Vmounted thereon with one ofthe zreed plates `attached ,to each side face of the block-'67. The reed plates andblock are attached edgewardly tothehousing in.amannersimilar tofthe firstform of `theiinvention with `guards '7.1fmounted Voutwardly'in spacedrelationzto the `reed plate so that'the vreeds are protected.

lIn a manner somewhat similar to the first form of the invention, ports 76 are formed through vthe housing 10 registering -with allof the passagess. Sets=of1ports '77 are formed through a cylindrical valvezsleeve'78, lsimilar to the -sleeve V40 insets vadapted -to play predetermined melodynotesand accompanying'chords. Thevalve sleeve is divided into ten divisions with the sets of ports located in 'predetermined positions. i

=-Referring Vto Fig. '6, it will be apparent that in 'one-position-of the valvesleeve 78, the-firstset of ports `'77 are positioned to usound -the first, third, uandfifth notes of -the scale. 'When the 'sleeve 78 lis 'rotated Jto bring fthe first set vof ports o verlthe other'passages'S, 'the second, fourth, and sixth notes are sounded, and so on.

: Operation The operation and utilityo'f the present invention are believed to be clearly apparent and are briefiy Summarized at this point. 'In lplaying -the vmusical instrument of the-present invention, a player blows-into the mouthpiece. The numerals 66 on the disk 54 provide a visual aid to chord selection. For example, the number 1 on the scale`55 identifies the'tonic chord, 2 vthe supertonic, 3" the mediant, "4 the subdominant, "5 the d0n`1inant,'6 the submediant, 7 the vlea d ing.tone,`8 the ,octave of the tonie, 9" the octave of the .Second or supertonic, and "10 the octave of'the third or mediant. The player may, by Vrt'atim oftheknob 6.0, Play many mnsicaLcQmpO-Sitions that have their melody notes as notes of 'thetonic scale with automatically aecompanying tonie or dominant harmony- A Sheet or hooklet may aeempany the musical instrument indieating the melody notes o f musical compositions by the number of notes Ain the Scale. "Thus, by reading the numbers, the player may easily, without previous instruction, play many musical compositions `with pleasing results.

Although the `inventionhas heenherein shown and de- Ascribed in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the Scope Of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details 'disclosed herein hutis ,to b e accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and structures.

Having-described my invention, what 'I clairnzas new and desire to secure byLettersfPatent is:

1. A toytrnusical instrument ;comprising an elongated housing simulating the appearance of ,theffuselage of an airplane having ,a forward and .a rearward end ,por-tion, said housing having an elongated cylindrical chamber fofriied axially longitudinally therein', a bore concentric t'o the Chamber and of a reduced diameter formed through the forward end of the housing into the Chamber, a bore conoentric to the Chamber and of a reduced diameter formed through the rearward end of the housing into the Chamber, and a plurality of ports formed through the housing radially of the Chamber in alignment longitudinally of the housing; simulated airplane wings laterally extended from the housing; a simulated airplane empennage mounted adjacent to the rearward end portion of the housing; a hollow cylindrical valve sleeve rotatably mounted in the Chamber having ports formed radially therethrough selectively registrable with the ports in the housing in response to rotational positioning of the sleeve; sounding reeds borne by the housing in alignment with the ports therein; a plug rigidly mounted in the forward end of the valve sleeve and rotatably extended through the forward bore of the housing; and a circular disk mounted Concentrically on the plug exteriorly of the housing having valve sleeve position indices thereon.

2. A toy musical instrument Comprising an elongated housing simulating the appearance of the fuselage of an airplane having a forward and a rearward end portion, said housing being formed with a cylindrical bore extended longitudinally inwardly of the housing from the rearward end thereof and a counterbore Coaxially aligned with the bore extended longitudinally of the housing inwardly from the forward end thereof, and a plurality of ports formed through the housing radially of the Counterbore in alignment longitudinally of the housing; simulated airplane wings laterally extended from the housing; a simulated empennage adjacent to the rearward end of the housing; a cylindrical valve sleeve rotatably mounted in the counterbore having peripheral ports successively registrable with the ports in the housing upon sleeve rotation; vibratory sound producing means mounted on the housing for engagement by air directed through the ports of the housing; a plug rigidly mounted in the forward end of the v sleeve having a cylindrical portion forwardly extended z and a circular disk rigidly mounted concentrically on the plug extension having visual indices thereon disposed toward the forward end portion of the housing positioned in Corresponding relation to the peripheral ports at the .valve sleeve.

3. A toy musical instrument Comprising an elongated 'housing having a bore longitudinally thereof from one end of the housing and a counterbore longitudinally of :the housing from the opposite end thereof, the bore and :the counterbore being substantially Coaxially algned and intersecting, the end of the housing having the bore being ,in the form of a mouthpiece, and the housing having a ,plurality of ports radially extended from the counterbore lto the exterior of the housing in substantial alignment longitudinally of the housing; a block mounted on the 'housing having a plurality of air passages therethrough ;aligned with the ports of the housing; vibratory sound ;means mounted in the air passages of the block; a hollow :cylindrical valve sleeve rotatably mounted in the Counterbore of the housing having sets of ports in the periphery thereof registerable with the ports in the housing; a plug fixedly mounted in the end of the valve sleeve opposite to the mouthpiece a cylindrical portion in sealing relation in the sleeve and having a concentrie axial extension of reduced diameter extended from the housing, the plug having an axially disposed shoulder between the cylindrical portion and the extension; a Cap mounted on the end of the housing opposite to the mouthpiece in closing relation to the counterbore with the plug extension rotatably extended therethrough and in engagement with the shoulder of the plug holding the plug and sleeve within the counterbore; and a note indicating disk mounted concentrically on the plug extension externally adjacent to the Cap for unitary rotational movement with the plug and valve sleeve having visual indices thereon disposed toward the mouthpiece individually positioned on the. disk in Corresponding relation to the positions of the individual sets of ports in the valve sleeve.

4i A musical instrument Comprising a hollow elongated housing open at its forward end, said open end Constituting a mouthpiece for the instrument, a section of the housing adjacent the rearward end of the housing having the hollow thereof in the form of a cylindrical Chamber of circular Cross-section, a hollow cylindrical valve sleeve of circular Cross-section coaxial with and in the Chamber, the outer diameter of the valve sleeve being substantially equal to that of the Chamber whereby the sleeve is rotatable in the Chamber, said sleeve being open at its forward end and closed at its opposite end whereby the sleeve will receive air blown into the mouthpiece, the housing having a plurality of ports through the walls of the Chamber forming section, the sleeve having a plurality of ports through the cylindrical wall of the sleeve, said sleeve ports being selectively registrable with the Chamber ports by rotation of the sleeve in the Chamber to form air passageways extending from the hollow of the sleeve to externally of the housing, air aCtuated sound-emitting means, means mounting the sound-emitting means on the housing in assocaition with the ports for actuation thereof by air passing through said passageways, means fixed to the sleeve and extending rearwardly and externally of the housing for effecting rotation of the sleeve in the Chamber, port registration indicating means fixed on the external end of said means for eifecting rotation of the sleeve, said indicator means extending beyond the external surface of the rearward end of the housing, and indicator means on the external surface of the housing, whereby when said indicating and indicator means are selectively aligned, at least one of the sleeve ports will be in registry with one of the Chamber ports to form one of said air passageways.

5. A musical instrument Comprising a housing having a bore extending from a forward end to a rearward end of the housing, the bore opening at the forward end of the housing to provide a mouthpiece opening for the instrument, a counterbore coaxial with and of larger diameter than the first mentioned bore and extending inwardly of the housing from said rearward end, the counterbore being cylindrical and of circular Cross-section to define a valve Chamber, a hollow cylindrical valve sleeve of circular Cross-section within the Chamber and of an axial length substantially equal to that of the counterbore, the outer diameter of the sleeve being substantially equal to the counterbore Whereby the sleeve is rotatable in the Chamber, means on the rearward end of the housing for maintaining the sleeve in the Chamber, the sleeve being open at that end thereof nearer the mouthpiece opening and closed at its opposite end, the housing having a plurality of ports extending through the walls defining the Chamber, the sleeve having a plurality of ports through the cylindrical wall of the sleeve, the sleeve ports being selectively registrable with the Chamber ports by rotation of the sleeve in the Chamber to selectively form air passageways extending from the hollow of the sleeve to externally of the housing, a plurality of air actuated sound-emitting means mounted on the housing individually adjacent to the ports and actuated by air passing through the passageways, an axially directed stem fixed on said opposite end of the sleeve and extending beyond the rearward end of the housing for effecting rotation of the sleeve in the Chamber, a circular disk fixed on and coaxial with the stem and positioned rearwardly of the rearward end of the housing, said disk being of larger diameter than the periphery of the rearward end of the housing to provide a peripheral portion on the inside face of the disk which is visible from the mouthpiece end of the instrument, indicia spaced about said peripheral portion, and a pointer on the exteror of the housing whereby the indicia are selectively alignable with the pointer to selectively align the sleeve and the Chamber ports.

'6. A lmusical ;instrument Vcornprising 'a 'housing having a bore extendingtfrom a'forward end' to a'rearward'en'd'of *the housing, the 'bore opening 'atthe'forward end o'f the housingito'tprovide a mouthpiece opening forthe'instrument, a lcounterbore coaxialwith and of larger diameter thanxtheffirst mentioned'bore Vand extending'inwardly of "the`housing from J'said 'rearward end, :the counterbore "being oylindricaland o'f c'ircular ;cross-section to define 'a valvehambenhollow rcylindrical 'valve Vsleeve of'circnlar cross-'section within the chamber and of an Vaxial length substantialiy egnal to that of'the counterbore, the

outer diameter offtheleevebeing substantially equal to 'the vcounterbore 'Whereby *the ^s1eev e is rotatabie in 'the Chamber, means on the rearward end of the housing 'for maintaininglthe sleeve in the `Chamber, th'esleeve 'being open at ^that end 'thereof nearer therrnonthpiece opening .andlosed at.its opposite endyan axially directed-row of paced apart and 'radially vextending'ports through the walls de'fiing the Chamber, a piurality of circumferen- 'tiaiiy spaceld partaxially direeted rows of radially 'extendinxgportsthronghthe cylinder wall of-the sleeve, each of the Sleeve ,ports :being selectively rgistrable With a chamberxport to 'form ,an airjpassageway extending from thehollowrof the sleeve 'to externally of'the housing, air

.actuated sound-emitting reeds Vmounted on 'the housing 1 =and associated one with each of "the Chamber ports for aetuationby .air passingthrough their 'respective Chamber ports, an axially directed stem fiXed'to the closed end of 'theleeve 'and zextending :beyond ;the rearward end .of

ithe'housingfor e'fecting rotaton o'ffthe VSleevezinfitheneham- *bana cirelar-'dikfixed on '-an'd-'coaxial with :thezs'tem :and positioned-rearwardly-ofFthe rear'war'd end of thehous'ing,

the `tliskibeing of J'larger 'diameter `than the =peripheny :of the rearw-ardendfioffithehousing:to provide a peripheral Aportion'onthe:insideffaee'ofthe disk Which-is'visibie from thermouthpiece'endzof the=instrument, -a circurnferentially arrangedlseries o`f=space`d apartindicia on said peripheral portion, the -nurriberofindiciabeingequal to that of fithe number offrows of's1eeve=ports, a` pointenonfthe'exterior ofthe housing Wherebysad indicia-are=se1ective1.y align- 'able With1the'pointer -to =se1ective1y align the 'sleeve :and 'the chamberlports.

'References Citedin ftheLfile of this `patent lUNITED :SIATES VPATENTS 

